Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

D Bastia

Publications and source records attributed to D Bastia.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

Interaction of the plasmid R6K-encoded replication initiator protein with its binding sites on DNA.

Initiation of DNA replication in plasmid R6K is potentiated by the plasmid-encoded 35 kd replication initiator protein. We had previously reported that the initiator bound to two regions of R6K DNA called Site I and Site II. Using DNAase I footprinting technique we have demonstrated that the initiator bound to seven tandem repeats of a 22 bp long sequence in Site I. In Site II, the initiator bound to a single repeat having the same consensus sequence and to two partial repeats that most likely overlap the promoter of the initiation protein cistron. Using dimethyl sulfate as a chemical probe, we have determined the purine residues of Site I and Site II that make contact with the initiator protein. The results show that eight out of nine contact points per repeat in Site I were located on one of the two strands of the DNA. The binding of the initiator to the Site II sequence could explain the observed autoregulation of the synthesis of the initiator protein by promoter occlusion.

Bacterial Proteins↗

DNA-protein interaction at the origin of DNA replication of the plasmid pSC101.

The initiation of DNA replication of the low copy number plasmid pSC101 is dependent on the dnaA initiator protein encoded by Escherichia coli. We have previously reported that the minimum essential replicon of the plasmid encodes a approximately 37.5 kd protein and that the protein is necessary along with host-encoded proteins for the replication of the plasmid chromosome. In this communication we show that the plasmid-encoded protein has sequence-specific DNA-binding activity. The protein binds cooperatively to the replication origin of pSC101. Using chemical and enzymatic probes we have determined the contact points of the protein with the DNA and the precise domain of the replication origin recognized by the 37.5 kd protein. The specificity of the DNA-protein interaction would suggest that the 37.5 kd protein may possibly function by guiding the replisome to the correct DNA sequence on the chromosome of pSC101.

Bacterial Proteins↗

The replication initiator protein of plasmid R6K tagged with beta-galactosidase shows sequence-specific DNA-binding.

We have tagged the replication initiator protein of the plasmid R6K near the C-terminal end by fusion, in the correct reading frame, with the 89 amino acid long N-terminal alpha-donor polypeptide of beta-galactosidase of E. coli. This fusion was carried out with recombinant DNA methods. The protein chimera thus generated retained the activities of both initiation of DNA replication in vivo at the replication origin gamma of R6K and hydrolysis of beta-galactopyranoside when complemented in vivo with the alpha-acceptor polypeptide coded by the lac Z gene containing the M15 deletion. Using the simple and convenient assay for detecting beta-galactosidase, we have partially purified the tagged replication initiator, and have demonstrated that the protein binds to specific DNA sequences of the R6K chromosome. The protein bound to DNA sequences located at two places in the 5' untranslated leader region of the initiator protein cistron.

Bacterial Proteins↗

T-lymphocyte subsets in adult coeliac disease.

1. As a defect of suppressor function has been hypothesized in the pathogenesis of coeliac disease, we measured, by monoclonal antibodies, the inducer/suppressor T-cell ratio in adult coeliac disease. 2. No statistical difference was observed between coeliac patients and healthy controls, irrespective of treatment and HLA status. 3. These results do not show an imbalance in the inducer/suppressor T-cell ratio in coeliac disease.

Adult↗

Primary structure of the essential replicon of the plasmid pSC101.

The replicon of the low copy number plasmid pSC101 has an obligatory requirement for the dnaA initiator protein of Escherichia coli as well as a plasmid-encoded initiator protein. We have identified the cistron of the plasmid-encoded initiator by DNA sequence analysis. Fusion of the initiator cistron with the lacZ gene of E. coli yielded a fusion protein of approximately equal to 150 kilodaltons, thus confirming that the open reading frame detected by DNA sequence analysis actually encoded a 37.5-kilodalton protein. Deletion of 26 amino acid residues from the COOH terminus of the plasmid initiator abolished autonomous replication from pSC101 origin. By in vitro deletion analysis we have shown that, although sequences downstream from the initiator cistron are dispensable, a maximum of 400 base pairs immediately upstream from the NH2-terminal region of the initiator is necessary for plasmid replication. These upstream sequences contain an A + T-rich region and three tandem repeats of a 21-base pair sequence; these features are characteristics of other replication origins.

Bacterial Proteins↗

Use of gene fusions and protein-protein interaction in the isolation of a biologically active regulatory protein: the replication initiator protein of plasmid R6K.

The initiation of DNA replication of plasmid R6K is triggered by a 35-kilodalton initiator protein. The initiator protein had been elusive because of its lability and the lack of a convenient assay procedure to aid its purification. Using recombinant DNA techniques, we have fused the cistron of the initiator near its COOH-terminal end, in the correct reading frame, to the lacZ cistron of Escherichia coli at the ninth codon from the NH2 terminus. The fused cistron yielded a protein that was not only stable in vivo but also had dual activities: initiation of DNA replication in vivo and in vitro and hydrolysis of beta-galactoside. Using an affinity column that is specific for beta-galactosidase, we have demonstrated the rapid purification of the hybrid protein to near homogeneity. Exploiting the polymeric structure of the initiator, we have also isolated the nonfused form of the initiator protein, associated through subunit interaction with the beta-galactosidase-fused protein, which permits its purification by affinity chromatography. NH2-terminal amino acid sequence analysis of the heteropolymer has not only shown that the fused and nonfused initiators have the same sequence but also confirmed the protein sequence of the initiator as predicted from its nucleotide sequence. The techniques described here should be generally useful for the isolation of other proteins that are difficult to purify by conventional procedures.

Bacterial Proteins↗

The nucleotide sequence of the replication origin beta of the plasmid R6K.

We h ave identified by molecular cloning a region of 283 base pairs of the HindIII 2 fragment of R6K which corresponds to the region of the replication origin beta. This 283 base-pair DNA fragment, when present contiguously with the structural gene for the replication initiation protein of R6K, encoded in the HindIII 9-15 and part of HindIII 2 restriction fragments, will support the replication of a plasmid chimera containing the pBR322 replicon in a pol Ats host at the nonpermissive temperature. The nucleotide sequence of the region of replication origin beta has been determined. The nucleotide sequence has some homology with the ori gamma region of R6K; it has a 15-base-pair homology with the replication origin of Escherichia coli.

Base Composition↗

Primary structure of the replication initiation protein of plasmid R6K.

The cistron of the replication initiation protein of plasmid R6K has been cloned into the single-strand DNA vectors M13mp8 and M13mp9 and its complete nucleotide sequence has been determined. The amino acid sequence of the initiator protein as predicted from its nucleotide sequence shows that the protein is lysine rich and weakly basic and has a molecular weight of 35,000, which is in close agreement with that estimated from the mobility in NaDodSO4/acrylamide gels. The secondary structure of the protein, approximately by the probabilistic methods of Chou and Fasman [Chou, P. & Fasman, G. (1978) Adv. Enzymol. 47, 45-148], suggests an NH2-terminal domain of primarily positively charged alpha-helical structure, a core region of interspersed short stretches of random coils and beta-sheets and -turns, and a COOH-terminal domain of alpha-helix.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Sequence of terminal regions of cowpox virus DNA: arrangement of repeated and unique sequence elements.

One terminal EcoRI fragment of the genome of cowpox virus (CPV) strain Brighton red has been cloned in plasmid pBR325, and the nucleotide sequence of the 2,725-base-pair Sal I fragment corresponding to that at the end of the viral genome has been determined. The fragment consists of three unique sequence regions flanking two sets of repeated sequence. The repeated sequence sets are composed of four types of subunits, the majority of which are arranged in higher-order repeat units. The subunits are themselves closely related; two are subsets of a third, whereas the fourth is a recombinant of the first two. The fragment possesses no long open reading frames (maximal coding potential, 65 amino acids). The sequence of this CPV DNA Sal I fragment is compared with that of the corresponding fragment of vaccinia virus WR DNA [Baroudy, B. M., Venkatesan, S. & Moss, B. (1982) Cell 28, 315-324; Venkatesan, S., Baroudy, B. M. & Moss, B. (1981) Cell 25, 805-813]. Two of the unique sequence regions of the two viruses are related to the extent of 96%, and the third contains at least one sequence of 112 residues that is 98% homologous. As for the repeated sequence sets, those of vaccinia virus are composed of only two, rather than four, types of subunit, one of which is identical to one of the CPV subunits, whereas the other differs from another CPV subunit by only three mismatches and one deletion. However, the arrangement of subunits in the two viruses is different, that in vaccinia virus DNA being simpler. Both subunits as well as repeat units probably arose as a result of unequal crossover.

Base Sequence↗

Termination of DNA replication in vitro at a sequence-specific replication terminus.

The replication terminus of the drug resistance factor R6K has been cloned into the plasmid vectors pBR313 and pBR322. When the exogenously added DNA is replicated in vitro using cell extracts prepared from Escherichia coli, the plasmid replication terminus temporarily arrests the progression of the unidirectionally moving replication fork at or near the cloned terminator sequence. When the relative location of the terminator sequence is changed with respect to the replication origin, the point of arrest of the replication fork shifts correspondingly to the new location of the terminator. Termination of replication takes place in vitro regardless of whether the cell extracts used in the in vitro reaction are prepared from E. coli with a resident terminus sequence containing plasmid. From these observations we conclude that the termination of replication in vitro is identical or very similar to that observed in vivo, membrane association is not necessary for the activity of the replication terminus and the terminus sequence does not code for a transacting factor necessary for termination of replication. Therefore, any transacting factor which may be needed for the termination of replication must be coded by the host chromosome.

Base Sequence↗

The nucleotide sequence surrounding the replication terminus of R6K.

The replication terminus of the plasmid R6K has been cloned into the single-stranded DNA phage vector M13mp5 and also into the plasmid vectors pBR313 and PBR322. By using single-stranded DNA templates prepared from the recombinant DNA clones, the sequence of 215 base pairs of DNA containing the replication terminus has been determined. The DNA sequence of the region of the terminus does not contain any 2-fold rotational symmetry. Therefore, folding of the DNA at the region of the terminus is unlikely to be a cause for replication termination. Interaction of a host-specified protein(s) with the sequence of the replication terminus is probably the basis of the mechanism of replicaion termination.

Bacterial Proteins↗

Nucleotide sequence determination of a strong promoter of the colicin E 1 plasmid. Analysis of restriction sites protected by RNA polymerase interactions before and after limited transcription.

This paper presents the location and nucleotide sequence of a strong promoter of ColE 1. This promoter is of interest because of its greatly enhanced activity in the supercoiled state of the plasmid DNA (3) and its possible role in the maintenance of the plasmid replicon (4). This strong promoter is located at the restriction endonuclease Hae III f-h site 0.13 map units from the single EcoR 1 site proximal to the origin of DNA replication. The nucleotide sequence of the Hpa II l fragment of ColE 1 which contains this promoter has been determined. Initiation of transcription at this promoter occurred at two positions. Limited transcription by omitting one of the four nucleotide triphosphates allowed transcription to proceed to the fourth (-UTP) and to the twelfth (-CTP) nucleotides respectively. This was used to probe the interaction between RNA polymerase and the ColE 10.13 promoter by means of restriction cutting at the Hae III site at =27 and the Hha I site at +17. RNA polymerase binding alone blocks restriction cutting at the HAE III site but not at the Hha I site. Limited transcrption to the fourth nucleotide resulted in blocking at both sites. Transcription to the twelfth nucleotide resulted in partial cutting at the Hae III site and blocking at the Hha I site.

Base Sequence↗

A spectroscopic and electron microscopic examination of the highly condensed DNA structures formed by denaturation in Mg(ClO4)2.

1. Thermal denaturation in 1.5 M Mg(ClO4)2 of the DNA from bacteriophage lambda results in four well-separated subtransitions, as monitored by the accompanying increase in absorbance. The midpoint of the hyperchromic spectrum is significantly lowered compared to either 1.5 M MgCl2 or 3.0 M NaClO4. 2. The first two subtransitions are associated with the melting of the A . T-richest regions of the lambda DNA, as revealed by electron micrographs following fixation with formaldehyde. 3. Commencing with the third subtransition, an unusual DNA structure is observed in electron micrographs. In this structure the A . T-rich half of the molecule appears completely condensed, whereas the G . C-rich half remains native. 4. During the fourth subtransition DNA molecules condense completely and eventually aggregate to form extremely high molecular weight particles containing centers of electron density. Tendrils of DNA, primarily duplex, radiate outward from these centers. 5. The aggregation may be reversed by the removal of magnesium. The intramolecular condensation may be at least partly reversed by increasing the Mg(ClO4)2 concentrations to saturating levels.

Coliphages↗

The nucleotide sequence surrounding the origin of DNA replication of Col E1.

The DNA of Col E1 replicates from a unique origin located at a distance of 17-19% of the genome length from the single Eco RI clevage site. The nucleotide sequence about this site has been determined by a combination of RNA and DNA sequencing techniques. The principal features of the sequence are two palindromes, one of which resembles a palindrome located in the intercistronic region of 0X174. The sequence also contains stretches of purine and pyrimidine clusters of the following compositions: pAT5G, pC2T5G, pGT5G. The origin sequence demonstrates that initiation of DNA replication takes place in an intercistronic region of Col E1DNA, although the possibility that this region makes small polypeptides 30-40 residues long cannot be strictly eliminated at this time.

Bacteriocin Plasmids↗

Heterogeneity, complexity, and repetition of the chloroplast DNA of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii.

The chloroplast DNA of wild-type Chlamydomonas reinhardtii was isolated in a CsCl density gradient as a single, homogeneous density class with a mean density of 1.695 g/cm(3). Irrespective of sheared size, denatured chloroplast DNA renatured as a single homogeneous species. Compositional heterogeneity, presumably intramolecular, was revealed by the absorbance-temperature profile. The complement of unique nucleotide sequences of the chloroplast DNA, as determined by the rate of renaturation, was 1.94 x 10(8) daltons. This kinetic complexity is 26-fold less than the DNA content of a single gamete chloroplast, and 52-fold less than the chloroplast of a vegetative cell, which indicates that the chloroplast of C. reinhardtii possesses at least 26 copies of a unique nucleotide sequence.

Base Sequence↗